John Hyde

John Hyde’s birth and early life information are currently unknown, but it is possible he was born in England and immigrated to the United States.¹ 

In 1790, President George Washington hired John to serve as steward in the second President’s House in New York alongside his wife, Mrs. Hyde (first name unknown). John replaced the previous steward, Samuel Fraunces, because Washington believed Fraunces spent too much money on the household.² However, Washington’s private secretary, Tobias Lear, compared the two and determined that Fraunces was the superior steward, even stating that Fraunces alone could do what Hyde and his wife did together.3 Letters between Washington and Lear also show that they contemplated whether Hyde should even join them at the President’s House in Philadelphia once the capital moved there in the fall of 1790. The Hydes did travel to Philadelphia, where they worked for the Washingtons for several months. However, President Washington ultimately rehired Fraunces.⁴ 

Hyde moved back to New York City and ran Tontine Coffee-House with his wife. He died on September 17, 1805.⁵